In a move that feels oddly reminiscent of Verizon announcing the iPhone (read: announcing a nearly year old device), AT&T just told the world that it would be getting the Samsung Nexus S, which is immediately available for pre-order from Best Buy for $99 with a two-year agreement.

This version of the Nexus S is lacking HSPA+, which makes it exactly like the T-Mobile version that landed in December of last year. Don't get me wrong - the Nexus S is a good phone, and the only device currently on store shelves that runs pure vanilla Gingerbread, but I just find it a bit hard to get excited about a device that's already been on the market for quite a while.

That aside, if you don't want to head over to Best Buy to pre-order this handset, it'll be on Ma Bell's shelves on July 24th.

SAMSUNG MOBILE ANNOUNCES AVAILABILTY OF NEXUS S ON AT&T

Nexus S hits Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile specialty stores, as well as online on July 24; pre-sale begins July 21

DALLAS – July 21, 2011 – Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.1, today announced the upcoming availability of Nexus™ S from Google™ through Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile specialty stores and www.BestBuy.com/Mobile.

Optimized for AT&T’s network, and powered by Android™ 2.3, Nexus S offers an experience with uniquely powerful technology. Nexus S is designed with Samsung’s special Super AMOLED™ touch screen technology providing a premium viewing experience. Nexus S runs off of a 1 GHz Samsung application processor, producing rich 3D graphics, as well as faster download and upload times. With Nexus S AT&T customers will now have access to the latest and greatest Google applications and Android updates first.

Nexus S will be available at Best Buy in stores on July 24 for $99.99 with a new, two-year activation. In addition, the phone is available for pre-sale in Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile specialty stores and online at www.BestBuy.com/Mobile beginning July 21.

Key Features:

Pure Google experience

4” Super AMOLED™ Contour Display

3G Network Speed and 1GHz Processor

Latest Google Mobile Apps

Full HTML Browser with Pinch to Zoom

Android 2.3 Gingerbread

Multitasking

Front-facing VGA camera

Rear-facing 5.0 Megapixel Camera and Camcorder

Voice-enabled Keyboard

Text-to-Speech

Wi-Fi

Bluetooth 2.1

3D Motion for Gaming

Business and Personal Email, Contacts, and Calendar Sync

Tethering

NFC Support

Internet Calling

Google Voice

Access to more than 250,000 apps in Android Market™

Specifications:

Frequency: GSM850/900/1800/1900 UMTS 850/1900/2100

Dimensions: 123.9 x 63 x 10.88(mm)

Weight: 129 grams

Display: Super AMOLED™, 480 x 800 pixels

Battery: 1500mAh Li-ion standard battery

Talk Time: Up to 6.5 hours

Standby Time: Up to 450 hours

1Number one mobile phone provider in the United States claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, Q1 2011 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports.

Cameron is a self-made geek, Android enthusiast, horror movie fanatic, musician, and cyclist. When he's not pounding keys here at AP, you can find him spending time with his wife and kids, plucking away on the 6-string, spinning on the streets, or watching The Texas Chainsaw Massacre on repeat.

Comments

Raj

Besides being pure google I'm struggling to find anything good about this. Doesn't even have "faux G". It really is the iPhone on Verizon all over again.

kevin

It's funny because I wanted this phone so badly ( on AT&T ) just a few months ago. Then I read about the Galaxy SII and was uninterested in this phone. So I have been chomping at the bit to get the GS2 and they now release THIS?

I truly hope I don't keep seeing this happen... I keep wanting to get into the android phone world, but this seems like a null move from AT&T.

Raj

Kevin, if you keep waiting to jump to android you will wait forever, great sounding phones are always being announced.

If you must stay with att, i'd suggest the inspire 4G, or the infuse 4G as entry level phones. If you want more power there is the atrix 4G as well.

The only reason I won't recommend the nexus s on att is the lack of 4G, or hspa+. I've used the inspire, the hspa+ is pretty quick and a definite improvement over 3G.

kevin

Yep, I know and certainly understand that. I'd just rather get the GS2 this year, sooner than later, of course.

I've looked at the Infuse, it was nice but really big. The Inspire is nice, as well, though.

http://iandouglas.com Ian Douglas

I sat next to a Googler on a flight to San Francisco who was using a T-Mobile Nexus S on AT&T. He said the phone was supplied by Google, but didn't say (and I didn't ask) whether using it on AT&T was his choice or Google's.

http://none.com Kai

Isn't this the FIRST full Google experience on AT&Terrible?

Eddy

The Google Nexus One was launched on at&t in addition to T-Mobile.

http://twocentstechnology.blogspot.com Robert

If only it was dual-core. I would be on my way to Best buy now. I want the next Nexus, but I'm not waiting until December or for AT&T to get it.

Jaz

1 thing I do like about this phone is the contour amoled screen. It is nice. The colors on it are definitely sharper than my qhd evo3d. But again if your with att and already have an android, I would wait to see if att will get sgs2 first.

rony

is it only me who doesn't wanna go for bigger screen then 4' ? definitely Galaxy s2 is huge by hardware means. and i would jump for it if. if the the phone wouldn't be so big. for me is 4" the biggest size i am willing to go. still ok for holding, still ok in jeans pocket and screen size enough to see what i need to.

Raj

I went from nexus one to evo 3D. It feels fat and huge by comparison but in general its not that big of a deal.